The Scot, who has prioritized helping Britain win the Davis Cup for
the first time since 1936 when they face Belgium in Ghent later this
month, will spend most of this week practicing on clay in London.
The Tour Finals, where Murray can clinch the year-end number two
ranking for the first time, begin on Sunday, meaning a testing few
days for the 28-year-old.
The transition to the specific movements of claycourt tennis have
proved problematic in the past for Murray who has often suffered
back pain as a consequence.
"I've tried to juggle the two so that I don't have to miss the (Tour
Finals) but also give myself a good chance of playing well in the
Davis Cup," said Murray who was beaten in the Paris Masters final on
Sunday by Novak Djokovic.
"It's important I'm not too hard on myself and don't just expect to
play great tennis at the start at the o2 as soon as I switch back to
hardcourts.
"I need to respect what the change to the clay can do to my body and
also what it can do to your game because it's a completely different
movement."
When Britain beat Australia in September to reach the final for the
first time since 1978, Murray winning all his three matches, the
Scot indicated he might miss the ATP finale that features the
world's top eight players.
He now says he could still pull out if he is worried about his
fitness for the Davis Cup final that starts on Nov. 27.
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"It's going to be tricky," added Murray. "If I get injured in the
next couple of days or something happens to my back then obviously I
won't play (at the o2).
"But if I'm fit and healthy and the next three days go well well
then I'll be practicing at the O2 from Friday."
Twice grand slam champion Murray has never won the ATP's
season-ender.
(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Tony Jimenez)
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